Shima Sadaf | Engineering | Excellence in Research Award

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Assist. Prof. Dr. Shima Sadaf | Engineering | Excellence in Research Award |

Assistant Professor at King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia.

Dr. Shima Sadaf 🎓 is an accomplished Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering at King Faisal University, with a Ph.D. (Distinction & Gold Medal) from Qatar University. Her impactful research spans digital twins, AI-driven power electronics ⚡, micro/nano-grids, and sustainable energy solutions 🌱. With 31 publications, two patents—including a US patent—and multiple awards 🏆 such as the LEWAS 2024 Academic Achievement Award, she demonstrates innovation and leadership. Her industry experience with Hyundai and ETA enriches her applied research. A dedicated mentor, active reviewer for top IEEE journals 📚, and certified LEED AP BD+C and PMP® professional, Dr. Sadaf combines advanced research with practical solutions for modern power systems. Her work continues to bridge academia, industry, and sustainability, driving real-world impact and inspiring future engineers.

Professional Profile

Google Scholar

Orcid Profile

📚 Education

Dr. Shima Sadaf holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering 🎓 with Distinction and a Gold Medal from Qatar University (2022), specializing in power electronics and nanogrid applications. She earned her M.Tech with Honors in Power Systems & Drives (2007) and B.Tech in Electrical Engineering (2004) from Aligarh Muslim University, India. Her strong academic foundation blends advanced theory, practical design, and cutting-edge technologies ⚡. Her thesis focused on high-gain DC-DC converters for nanogrids, laying a robust base for sustainable energy research. Committed to continuous learning, she has also achieved professional certifications like LEED AP BD+C and PMP® 🏅, enhancing her expertise in sustainable design and project management. Dr. Sadaf’s educational journey reflects a balance of academic rigor, innovation, and practical relevance.

💼 Professional Experience

Dr. Shima Sadaf’s career integrates academia and industry seamlessly. Currently an Assistant Professor 👩‍🏫 at King Faisal University, she actively develops curricula, mentors students, leads accreditation processes, and designs innovative programs in electrical engineering. Previously, she served as a Graduate Teaching Research Assistant at Qatar University, contributing significantly to teaching and laboratory innovation. Before academia, Dr. Sadaf spent nearly a decade in industry 🏗️ as an Electrical Design Engineer with Hyundai Engineering & Construction and ETA M&E, delivering complex, multimillion-dollar projects like the iconic National Museum of Qatar. Her diverse roles included technical design, project coordination, stakeholder engagement, and mentoring junior engineers. This rich blend of industry and academic experience empowers her to deliver research with strong practical impact and relevance ⚙️.

🔬 Research Interest

Dr. Shima Sadaf’s research focuses on shaping the future of sustainable and intelligent power systems. Her work explores digital twins and AI for converter design 🤖, cybersecurity for power electronics, smart grids, integrated micro/nano-grids, and renewable energy for net-zero goals 🌍. She is especially known for AI-driven design optimization of high-gain DC-DC converters and advanced electric vehicle charging systems 🚗⚡. Her interdisciplinary approach integrates power electronics, machine learning, and grid modernization, addressing urgent global challenges like clean energy, resilient infrastructure, and energy efficiency. With a vision to bridge theory and application, Dr. Sadaf’s research not only advances academic knowledge but also provides scalable solutions for the energy transition, industry innovation, and smarter cities of tomorrow 🔋🏙️.

🏆 Awards and Honors

Dr. Shima Sadaf’s dedication and impact are recognized with prestigious awards 🥇. She received the “Academic Achievement – University Professor Award_LEWAS 2024” for her outstanding contributions to engineering education and research. She also earned the “Best Researcher Award” and “Outstanding Leadership Award” for her influence in innovative research and academic leadership 👏. Her doctoral distinction, recognized with a Gold Medal and a special honor by the Amir of Qatar’s wife, underscores her academic excellence. Additional accolades include the “Women Researcher Award” by ScienceFather and multiple best paper awards at top conferences 📜. These honors reflect not only her scholarly productivity but her commitment to inspiring women in STEM and driving real-world solutions through impactful research.

🧩 Research Skills

Dr. Shima Sadaf combines deep theoretical expertise with practical skills across modern tools and methodologies 🔍. She is proficient in MATLAB/Simulink, PowerWorld Simulator, FPGA with system generator, Arduino IDE, Multisim, and PCB design tools 🖥️. Her robust skill set supports complex modeling, simulation, and implementation of high-gain DC-DC converters, smart grids, and AI-based power systems. She holds two patents, including a US patent, evidencing her innovation in practical technologies ⚡. As a reviewer for IEEE Transactions, IET Power Electronics, and other top journals, she upholds high standards in scientific rigor 📚. Her leadership in workshops and expert talks further highlights her ability to transfer knowledge and inspire emerging researchers and engineers 🌟.

Publications Top Note 📝

Title: ON/OFF Switchable Smart Poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) Based Hybrid Nanocatalyst for the Response Surface Methodology Based Catalytic Reduction of 2‐Nitroaniline
Authors: M. W. Alam, S. M. Usman, S. Naeem, N. Zaidi, Shima Sadaf, K. Naseem
Year: 2025
Source: ChemistrySelect
Citation: ChemistrySelect 10 (8), Feb. 2025, https://doi.org/10.1002/slct.202404485

Title: Multifunctional ZrO₂/NiO/RGO Ternary Nanocomposites for Degradation of Organic Pollutants, H₂ Production and Antioxidant Property
Authors: S. R. Bavaji, A. Jafar Ahamed, M. W. Alam, G. M. Alsulaim, S. Sadaf
Year: 2025
Source: Journal of Inorganic and Organometallic Polymers and Materials
Citation: Journal of Inorganic and Organometallic Polymers and Materials, Jan. 2025, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10904-025-03630-w

Title: Insight into NaSiCl₃: A Lead-Free Perovskite for the Next Generation Revealed by DFT and SCAPS-1D
Authors: S. Rabhi, et al.
Year: 2025
Source: Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics
Citation: Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, Jan. 2025, https://doi.org/10.1039/d5cp01747e

Title: Improved Ni₃V₂O₈ Supercapacitive Performance via Urea-Driven Morphological Alteration
Authors: M. W. Alam, et al.
Year: 2025
Source: Ceramics International
Citation: Ceramics International 51 (10), 13430–13442, Jan. 2025, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2025.01.187

Title: Enhanced UV Photodetector Based on WO₃/SnO₂ Heterostructure Nanowire
Authors: M. W. Alam, I. Ao, S. Sadaf, E. R. Singh
Year: 2024
Source: Applied Physics A
Citation: Applied Physics A 131 (1), Dec. 2024, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-024-08177-0

Title: Bio-Genic Synthesis of Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Nanodots (NDCNDs) Using Aristolochia bractealata for MO Catalytic Activity and Security Ink
Authors: M. W. Alam, et al.
Year: 2024
Source: Waste and Biomass Valorization
Citation: Waste and Biomass Valorization, Dec. 2024, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-024-02859-9

Title: Hydrothermal Synthesis of rGO-Decorated NiMn₂O₄ Nanoneedles for High-Performance Positive Electrode in Asymmetric Supercapacitors
Authors: J. Jothi, M. Parthibavarman, K. L. Meghanathan, B. Souayeh, M. W. Alam, S. Sadaf
Year: 2024
Source: Diamond and Related Materials
Citation: Diamond and Related Materials 150, Nov. 2024, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.diamond.2024.111764

Title: Controlled Synthesis and Electrochemical Characterization of Co₃V₂O₈ Hexagonal Sheets for Energy Storage Applications
Authors: M. A. Yewale, D. K. Shin, M. W. Alam, A. M. Teli, S. Nabi, S. A. Ansari, S. Sadaf, A. A. AlKahtani
Year: 2024
Source: Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects
Citation: Colloids and Surfaces A, Aug. 2024, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfa.2024.135180

Title: Advancements in Green-Synthesized Transition Metal/Metal-Oxide Nanoparticles for Sustainable Wastewater Treatment
Authors: M. W. Alam, et al.
Year: 2024
Source: Materials Research Express
Citation: Materials Research Express 11 (10), Oct. 2024, https://doi.org/10.1088/2053-1591/ad86a4

Title: Bipolar Resistive Switching Behavior of Bilayer β-Ga₂O₃/WO₃ Thin Film Memristor Device
Authors: M. W. Alam, A. Jamir, B. Longkumer, B. Souayeh, S. Sadaf, B. Moirangthem
Year: 2024
Source: Journal of Alloys and Compounds
Citation: Journal of Alloys and Compounds 1010, Oct. 2024, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2024.177032

✅ Conclusion

In summary, Dr. Shima Sadaf is an outstanding researcher, educator, and innovator who exemplifies research excellence and impactful leadership ✨. Her career unites advanced technical expertise, high-quality publications 📑, patents, industry experience, and dedication to sustainability 🌱. Recognized globally for her contributions and leadership, she empowers the next generation of engineers through active mentorship, curriculum innovation, and outreach. With her strong interdisciplinary focus and commitment to solving real-world energy challenges ⚙️, Dr. Sadaf stands out as a role model in modern power electronics and sustainable energy systems. Her work continues to bridge academia, industry, and society, driving progress towards smarter, greener, and more resilient energy solutions for the future ⚡🌍.

 

Margarida Soares | Engineering | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Margarida Soares | Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Margarida Soares at CVR- CENTRO PARA A VALORIZAÇÃO DE RESÍDUOS, Portugal

Dr. Margarida Reis Soares is a multidisciplinary researcher specializing in the valorization of industrial and organic waste and the integration of circular economy principles. She holds a Master’s degree in Biological Engineering with a specialization in Technology in Chemical and Food Processing from the Universidade do Minho, Portugal. Currently, she serves as an investigator at the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia and the Centro para a Valorização de Resíduos (CVR). Over the years, Dr. Soares has contributed to numerous European Union-funded projects, addressing eco-innovation, green technologies, and sustainability. Her research emphasizes creating environmentally friendly solutions for waste recovery and fostering green growth in industries.

Publication Profile

Scopus

Orcid

Educational Details

Master’s Degree in Biological Engineering (Integrated Master’s Program)

  • Specialization: Technology in Chemical and Food Processing
  • Institution: Universidade do Minho, Portugal
  • Completion: November 2016
  • Thesis: “Estudo da Viabilidade da Diminuição das Temperaturas de Pasteurização Aplicadas aos Preparados Elaborados na Decorgel”
  • Graduation Grade: 17.07/20

Professional Experience

  • Investigator
    • Institution: Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia / Centro para a Valorização de Resíduos (CVR), Portugal
    • Duration: November 2023 – Present
  • Researcher
    • Institution: Centro para a Valorização de Resíduos (CVR), Universidade do Minho, Portugal
    • Roles:
      • Investigated sustainable waste recovery and circular economy initiatives.
      • Collaborated on European Union-funded projects focused on eco-innovation and green technologies.
    • Duration: January 2017 – Present
  • Quality Control Laboratory Technician
    • Employer: Prozis, Portugal
    • Duration: July 2019 – July 2020

Research Interest

  • Valorization of industrial and organic waste.
  • Circular economy and sustainability strategies.
  • Development of eco-innovative materials using waste recovery.
  • Integration of bio-based processes in chemical and food engineering.
  • Technological solutions for green growth and environmental impact reduction.

Selected Research Projects

  • BioShoes4All (2023–Present): Innovation in sustainable bioeconomy for the footwear industry.
  • Mission2GG (2023–Present): Strategies for green growth, circularity, and eco-innovation.
  • RENew (2020–Present): Circular economy solutions for reintroducing construction waste.
  • VALORMAR (2017–Present): Valorization of marine resources through innovation.
  • EcoSustainable Rail (2016–Present): Development of eco-sustainable railway sleepers using mixed plastics.
  • UpCycle4Biz (2021–2023): Materials upcycling for promoting a circular economy.
  • Res2ValHum (2016–Present): Recovery of organic waste for humic substance production.

Publication Top Notes

“Peach processing wastes stabilization: Effect on the physical-chemical and microbiological properties”

  • Authors: Ribeiro, A., Soares, M., Valerio, N., Vilarinho, C., Carvalho, J.
  • Source: WASTES: Solutions, Treatments, and Opportunities IV – Selected Papers from the 6th International Conference Wastes, 2023, 2024, pp. 452–457.
  • Abstract and related documents: Disabled.

“Pig meat processing wastes stabilization: Effect on the microbiological properties”

  • Authors: Ribeiro, A., Soares, M., Valerio, N., Vilarinho, C., Carvalho, J.
  • Source: WASTES: Solutions, Treatments, and Opportunities IV – Selected Papers from the 6th International Conference Wastes, 2023, 2024, pp. 458–464.
  • Abstract and related documents: Disabled.

“An Experimental Setup for Plasma Gasification of Sewage Sludge”

  • Authors: Pacheco, N., Barbosa, F.V., Ribeiro, A., Teixeira, J.C.F., Vilarinho, C.
  • Source: Proceedings of the Thermal and Fluids Engineering Summer Conference, 2023, 2023-March, pp. 543–557.
  • Abstract and related documents: Disabled.
  • Citations: 2.

“Challenges of Digital Waste Marketplace—The Upvalue Platform”

  • Authors: Soares, M., Ribeiro, A., Vasconcelos, T., Vilarinho, C., Carvalho, J.
  • Source: Sustainability (Switzerland), 2023, 15(14), 11235.
  • Abstract and related documents: Disabled.
  • Citations: 2.

“Diving into Fish Valorisation: Review Opportunities and Analyzing Azorean Fish Data”

  • Authors: Valério, N., Soares, M., Vilarinho, C., Correia, M., Carvalho, J.
  • Source: Processes, 2023, 11(7), 1998.
  • Abstract and related documents: Disabled.
  • Citations: 5.

Conclusion

Dr. Margarida Soares is a strong candidate for the Best Researcher Award, particularly in the context of applied sustainability and circular economy research. Her work addresses global environmental challenges through innovative, practical solutions, and her involvement in EU-funded projects showcases her ability to collaborate on high-impact initiatives. However, to strengthen her candidacy further, she should focus on increasing her publication output, pursuing patents, and expanding her international footprint.

 

 

 

Xiaoming Li | Systems Engineering | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Xiaoming Li, Systems Engineering, Best Researcher Award

Doctorate at Concordia University, Canada

Summary:

Dr. Xiaoming Li is an accomplished researcher and educator with extensive experience in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and optimization models for shared mobility and smart logistics. With a Ph.D. in Information and Systems Engineering from Concordia University, his work focuses on integrating data-driven approaches to optimize urban transportation systems and enhance sustainability. He has a strong background in software engineering and has contributed significantly to both academic research and industry projects. Dr. Li has received several awards, including the IEEE Outstanding Leadership Award and the Mitacs Accelerate Program Award. As a dedicated educator, he has taught and mentored students across various institutions, shaping the next generation of computer scientists.

Professional Profile:

👩‍🎓Education:

Ph.D. in Information and Systems Engineering

  • Concordia University, Montréal, QC, Canada
  • Cumulative GPA: 4.0 / 4.3

M.Sc. in Computer Software and Theory

  • Northeastern University, China
  • Cumulative GPA: top 16.7%

B.Sc. in Computer Science and Technology

  • Shenyang Aerospace University, China

Professional Experience:

Dr. Xiaoming Li currently serves as a Research Associate at Concordia University, Montréal, where he supervises interdisciplinary research in artificial intelligence and operations research for shared mobility-on-demand applications. His role involves designing deep learning models for time-series demand forecasts, developing data-driven stochastic optimization models for renewable energy mobility management, and creating an integrated optimization framework for sustainable crowd-shipping services. Previously, Dr. Li held a Research Assistant position at Concordia, working on data analysis and machine learning model development for various projects, including forecasting commodity rates and predicting hotel booking cancellations.

Dr. Li’s industrial experience includes internships at Ericsson’s Global Artificial Intelligence Accelerator, where he developed an energy-saving framework for 5G base stations, and Medialpha, where he optimized nurse routing and medical resource allocation using meta-heuristic algorithms. Additionally, he has substantial experience as a Software Engineer at Shenyang Aerospace University, leading projects and managing teams.

In academia, Dr. Li has served as an Adjunct Faculty at Vanier College, teaching database theory and application development, and as a Full-Time Lecturer at Shenyang Aerospace University, instructing on a variety of computer science courses and supervising numerous student projects.

Research Interest:

  • Machine Learning
  • Operations Research
  • Data Science
  • Data-Driven Optimization
  • Agent-Based Simulation Modeling
  • Shared Mobility
  • Smart Logistics
  • Sustainable Intelligent Transportation Systems

Publications Top Noted: 

GREEN: A Global Energy Efficiency Maximization Strategy for Multi-UAV Enabled Communication Systems

  • N. Lin, Y. Fan, L. Zhao, X. Li, M. Guizani
  • IEEE Transactions on Mobile Computing, 14, 2022.

BM-DDPG: An Integrated Dispatching Framework for Ride-Hailing Systems

  • J. Gao, X. Li, C. Wang, X. Huang
  • IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems, 23(8), 11666-11676, 2021.

Driver Guidance and Rebalancing in Ride-Hailing Systems Through Mixture Density Networks and Stochastic Programming

  • X. Li, J. Gao, C. Wang, X. Huang, Y. Nie
  • 2021 IEEE International Smart Cities Conference (ISC2), 1-7, 2021.

Learning-Based Open Driver Guidance and Rebalancing for Reducing Riders’ Wait Time in Ride-Hailing Platforms

  • J. Gao, X. Li, C. Wang, X. Huang
  • 2020 IEEE International Smart Cities Conference (ISC2), 1-7, 2020.

Ride-Sharing Matching Under Travel Time Uncertainty Through Data-Driven Robust Optimization

  • X. Li, J. Gao, C. Wang, X. Huang, Y. Nie
  • IEEE Access, 10, 116931-116941, 2022.